Setting

Physical setting

The events described in the story “The Good Samaritan” by Charles Ardai take place in the US, in New York (p. 89, l. 5). The murders take place on the streets of New York at night, where the homeless victims are approached by the killer. 

The first scene presents Harold Sladek taking shelter from the rain under the “service entrance to Body Beautiful” (p. 85, l. 12), a beauty salon: “The doorway offered little protection from the rain since it was less than a foot deep, but it was better than sitting out on the sidewalk itself” (p. 85, ll. 12-15). 

The narrative also mentions streets like “32nd to 45th on the West Side” (p. 91, ll. 13-14), Penn Station (p. 90, l. 11), “Bryant Park” (p. 92, l. 16) or “the corner of Lexington and 79th” (p. 85, ll. 29-30) to give the story a realistic atmosphere. However, more attention is given to the rainy weather: “Ra...